Après-Ski in Breckenridge: A Love Story

By: KELLEY FERRO

Host, Filmmaker, Journalist

Before my adventure in Breckenridge, I was a Colorado newbie. Grasping the map on my first chair up, the amount of terrain, peaks and trails made me positively giddy. Fittingly, it was Valentine’s Day and before I had even skied one trail, I was in love.

As if bright blue skies, warm temps, perfectly groomed trails and so many vistas weren’t enough, after my day of skiing, Breckenridge made me fall in love all over again. It was when I sat down, took off my boots, and had that first sip of beer, that I appreciated this mountain town on a whole new level.

Yes, I’m talking about après-ski. The permanent chill on your cheeks warms, your tensed muscles relax, and you feel like you damn well deserve this drink. And you probably do! That’s the difference between après-ski and just a happy hour. When you après (yes, that’s become a verb), you’ve earned it.

Since there’s no trail map to best après-ski bars, I did all the work for you. I chatted up locals on the lifts, got recommendations from Breckenridge veterans, and perused all the review sites and articles, to come up with a list of what to check out.

From there, I curated this list of the unique, notable, and just plain great stops for après-ski in this charming ski town.

For the cowboy or cowgirl: Briar Rose Chophouse & Saloon

Looking like an old-time saloon on the outside, on the inside, the Briar Rose Saloon could entertain cowboys and ski bums alike.

Don’t be fooled by the white tablecloths of the Chophouse restaurant on the way in; the back saloon’s happy hour lets you indulge in top quality at very reasonable prices.

We snagged a leather seat in this wood paneled, taxidermy clad bar and ordered up some half- priced happy hour bites. The Brussel sprouts with chorizo were simply mouthwatering and didn’t last long on our table.

The 2-for-1 cocktail special is one of the best in town, especially since the cocktails were seriously good. The Briar Martini, served with a bleu cheese olive, packed a savory punch. Service here was topnotch and the transporting ambiance made this place stand out.

Note that the word is out, though; make sure to get in early as this small saloon gets packed from 4 to 6 p.m. during peak après-ski hours.

For the craft snob: Après

With points given for the to-the-point name, this new bar is all about the handcrafted. And with two parts hipster, one part log cabin, the vibe here is the opposite of the pretentious cocktail bar that you might expect.

Two friends playing chess at a side table, Christmas lights twinkling over the window, a comfortably busy scene at the bar, and the friendly smile of the mixologist—was this a bar or a (really cool) friend’s house?

My buddy and I wanted to get a prime view of the cocktail magic so we pulled up a red stool, careful not to knock over the tiny bottles of bitters, liqueurs, and other cocktail potions.

Looking up, I don’t think I’d ever seen that many taps behind the bar. The extensive craft beer collection, including 30 drafts, is truly impressive. Most are local brews but some hailed from the far-reaching lands of Maui and all the way to Sweden.

But since the Après handcrafted cocktail list was two full pages long, it took me a little while to decide what to order.

Seasonal specialties like a spice holiday Old Fashioned and what promised to be “liquid pecan pie” were enticing but we went for classics: Bees Knees and a Corpse Reviver #2.

Expertly balanced, the Bees Knees was neither too honey-sweet or too citric from the lemon with just a hint of herbal gin flavor.

The Corpse Reviver #2 was a warming, slightly licorice dram—which certainly kicks après- ski into the next gear.

For the cocktail lovers: Breckenridge Distillery

The highest distillery in the world is now also an 8,000-square-foot restaurant, helmed by Top Chef alum, Daniel O’Brien. The space pays homage to the brewery/distillery feel with high ceilings and a mix of low tables and hightop seating at the bar.

Always curious about the process, we chose a bar seat to sample their in-house cocktails, crafted with their own vodkas, gins, rums, and whiskeys, of course.

The farm-to-table philosophy applies to their eclectic menu, which includes caviar, poutine, terrine, and pasta. The small plates make it friendly for group sharing or bar bites, but if you order enough, it certainly can be a full meal.

As for drinks, they have a very creative cocktail list, with riffs on classics like the Obi Wan Old Fashioned, using Breckenridge Bourbon.

For the laid-back brew: Broken Compass Brewing

Dogs are allowed and there are ski lift chairs as seats.

Not much more is needed to paint the picture of the ultimate, chilled-out watering hole that is Broken Compass Brewing. Bring your own food and get ready to meet friends—this taproom has communal tables and 12 taps of their own brews from the next-door brewery.

Once inside, everyone here is family; locals and first-timers can’t help but be charmed by the Broken Compass. Not sure which beer to choose? A flight will let you sample the classics, like the Irish Red and Ginger Pale Ale, along with any seasonal brews only available here. The Coconut Porter, made with organic roasted coconut, was unfortunately tapped out—but that just means I’ll have to return to try it.

Be sure to check the alcohol by volume as some of these delicious beers will knock your ski boots off or cause you to dance on tables, if you aren’t careful.

For the boozy ski shop: RMU Tavern

Have you ever been to a ski shop that moonlights as a bar?

I hadn’t either and all the locals were atwitter about the newly opened RMU Tavern, just down South Main Street. Enter through the Rocky Mountain Underground showroom if you want to experience the stark contrast between a bright showroom and dimly lit speakeasy.

RMU Tavern has the right amount of quiet corners and mountain energy to make it right for a romantic date or a rowdy gathering.

Pulling up a corner bar seat, we ordered a Cherry Peak and a Manhattan. The cocktail and beer list is tailored to local purveyors (Broken Compass is on the list) and our two drinks were certainly show-stoppers.

The Cherry Peak combines local Breckenridge Whiskey, tart cherry whiskey, lemon, and egg white for a delightfully frothy pink tumbler. The smooth, dark Manhattan was small, unique, and strong, just like RMU Tavern.

For the oenophile: Giampietro Pizzeria

Generally speaking, if a place is crowded, it has to be good. Giampietro’s lives up the hype with its solid Italian menu that revolves around oversized, thin crust New York-style pizzas.

But why add a pizza place to the list?

Giampietro’s actually has a newly added, modern bar area with an extensive wine list. Boasting affordable bottles, lesser-known Italian labels, and even wines on tap, this stop will make all wine-lovers happy.

Getting a seat at the bar isn’t an easy feat—we managed to snag one while waiting for our table—but the ambiance, ample pours, and good vibes of Giampietro's make up for it.

If you stay for dinner, don’t miss the Chicken Parm.

For Ski Fuel: Pioneer Crossing

With a "Harry Potter" style great room and nearly 500 seats, the dining area has sweeping, floor-to-ceiling views of the Summit County.

The only thing that will distract you from that view is the delicious food. A made-to-order salad bar with healthy options and warming hot chocolate will certainly keep you going for the rest of the day.

This is not your average ski lodge.

Whether you are a cocktail lover or a beer snob, wine drinker or just looking for a chill atmosphere, Breckenridge has what you need.

What remains constant is welcoming bartenders, quality local ingredients, and the buzzing feeling of being at one of the best mountain towns in the world.